The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-11-24

CHAPTER 1.

abroad"
1t would require pretty strong feath
er," he replied. "And what did you
say?"
OF course wanted your permission.
She quite understood that; and it is ar
ranged that tomorrow am to call at the
house and let her know"
:" If you want to go, Lucy, 60 by all
means" said he, taking up the newspaper.
Its not 80 much that, but you see we
should gain something for the winter.
The child wants clothes; l want q few
things myself; and your shirts, Charley
are fraying dreadfully"
"That's right; bring me in, and get
your own way. You're fne diplomat
ist, Lucy-a trifie transparent, but quite
the right thing"
Then l may go, Charley" l asked.
Certainly" he replied. 81 will try
to manage without yor for month";"
l kissed him over the paper, and he
laughed. Indeed, am quite sure that
he didn't rather enjoy the prospect, but
held my tongue, and next day made my
arrangement with Miss Katie, who bad
asked me to accompany her into Switzer-
land, where she was to stay awhile with
her aunt and cousins.
"Thank you SO much, Mrs. Farmer"
she said. Father would not have been
SO satisfied if you had not consented to 60
with me. I hope Mr.. Farmer does not
mind much"
Not much, Miss. When do we start ?'
Next Monday" she replied and
that day We Quilted home, coming through
London to Dover, where We slept that
night.
1t was in the Spring, l should have
told you and the passage was a little
rough and the day was chilly, too. 1t
wasn't natural that Miss Katie should
travel unnoticed, and before we reached
Calais, gentleman and his sister, pleas
ant couple, We're talking to her.
They were also going into our part of
the country-some place ending with
berg but whether Iceberg or Snow
berg, or some other name, | can't dis
tinctly say.
The young gentleman and his sister
were going in the same direction. Their
name was Neville. They had no servant,
and so it was we'll was there, and waited
on Miss Neville, who was, / must say,
liberal in her notions; 80 Charley's shirts
We're soon paid for.
We travelled quickly enough, but one
day as we were waiting for steamer to
carry US on from some place which for
got to another that | can't exactly re-
member, l got shock which nearly
turned me into the image of Lots wife.
Close to Miss Katie, unseen by her,
stood a desperate man l knew too we'll
Gideon Grasper! Yes; the man she had
refused-the man who had sworn to be
revenged-the INSCRIPTIONS Grasper him.
self.
He had aisnrraA-oa f-o-~ e-- -;tl-s-
after a wreck business, which no one
could rightly fathom, when Miss Katie
repulsed him.
There was some talk-for our folks are
gossips-but no one of us had since seen
him until now. was alone, bag in hand,
watching her as she stood on the little
stage, deep in thought, while Miss Neville
watched the steamer, and Mr.. Neville
was hurrying down with the big bag after
me.
was in a terrible fright for fear Miss
Katie should see Grasper. He kept aside
and watched; he meant mischief; yet in
some respects he was changed; his hair
and beard were long, his dress was almost
German like, and he was smoking a china
pipe. But his eyes were as cruel and
vindicitive as ever, and / shuddered as |
saw him fastsn them on Miss Katie.
Fourteen months had made deal of diff
ference in his appearance doubt if he
had altered in himself.
Up came the little steamer, and we all
went on board. Mr.. Neville attaching
himself to Miss Katie, and could see
him whispering to her; and she laughed
but blushed all the same, and said:
"Just fancy such thing!" favorite
saying of hers.
Gideon Grasper was forward, and made
no sign until | went near the engine,
when he came up behind me and whis-
pered:
care they engaged? Tell me quick"
"How dare you address me like that p
asked, turning on him in English, PLAIN
as his face.
"You're not the Queen Of England,
nor yet the Emperor of Russia, so sup
pose can talk to a countrywoman. My
dear Mrs. Farmer, you are looking
Younger than ever-ten years at least"
"Mr. Gideon Grasper," said Il can't
return the compliment, and l require
none of yours We are strangers since
YOU wrecked that bark"
"Hold your tongue!" he hissed, "or
it will be bad for you and your baby
faced girl yonder. I suppose you know
she is engaged to me?'
"To your exclaimed. "Oh, Heaven
forgive you such story! Why, she hates
you!"
"Does she? Then she'll have to
chan re her mind. have her promise, in
writing. more than eighteen months old,
and it was never retracted. can reclaim
her, or"
"Or what ?" asked, tremblingly.
"Or she'll not live to marry anyone
else. Do You suppose | don't know she
has come away to avoid me? Yes, she
has: but Gideon Grasper is not the man
to give up his sweetheart. Tve suffered
enough for her already. Go and tell her,
If YOU like. But mind, lam at your elbow,
and can have you arrested at any mo-
ment, If please, as Russia Nihilists.
"You're a demon-a malignant de-
mon; that's what yoa are!''
"Then I'll act the character, you may
depend, Mrs. Farmer. So be warned,
you and Miss Baby-face.'
He turned away, and | waited until ne
had disappeared among the other passen-
GERS. Then I came aft again, and At